Fountain-pen.



PATENTED JUNE 20, 1905.

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NiTnD STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT FFICE.,

FOUNTAIN-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,898, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed February l, 1905. Serial No. 243,718.

To all 711100711/ it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL H. HoDGus, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Glens Falls, in the county of Warren and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Pens, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in fountain-pens, and particularly self-filling fountain-pens of thatkind provided with a compressible and expansible rubber bulb which when compressed will force the air from the ink-barrel to permit ink to be forced by atmospheric pressure into said barrel upon the return of said bulb to its normal expanded condition. Heretofore reiilling-bulbs of this character have been cumbrously applied to the barrels or so arranged as to serve as an ink-receptacle, thereby increasing the cost of production of the pen to the manufacturer or rendering its maintenance in working condition a source of continual expense to the user, as the bulb speedily becomes useless on account of the action of the inkon the rubber and requires frequent replacement.

The main object of the invention is to pro vide a construction which will admit of the detachable connection of the refilling-bulb with the barrel in a simple and comparatively inexpensive manner and whereby the ink will be prevented from iiowing into the bulb, thereby prolonging the period of usefulness of the latter to a material extent.

Figure 1 is a view, mainly in vertical longitudinal section, of a fountain-pen embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the cap and shield being removed. Fig. i is a similar view of the cap.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents the barrel of the pen, whose forward end is suitably constructed to receive the feed-bar 2 and pen-point 3. At its rear end the barrel l is provided with a reduced neck 4, terminating in a smaller nipple 5 and having arestricted air-duct 6, which extends through the neck and nipple and communicates with the rear end of the ink-chamber of the barrel.

The reiilling-bulb 7 is of elongated form and composed of rubber of suitable resiliency to ad apt it to freely expand and contract. The rear end of the bulb is closed, while the forward end thereof is open and formed with a contracted sleeve 8, adapted to snugly embrace the nipple and detachably connect the bulb thereto, the nipple being undercut or otherwise suitably Aformed to secure a tight connection. By thus constructing the bulb connection an extremely simple and inexpensive, yet secure, form of fastening is provided which admits of ready detachment of the bulb and the substitution of a new one therefor when occasion requires.

A shield 9 is provided to cover and protect the bulb, while a cap 10 is provided to iitupon the forward end of the barrel and protect the pen-point when the pen is not in use. The shield 9 is of proper size to receive the expanded bulb and is adapted to frictionally engage the neck 4 and to lie flush with the outer surface of the barrel. When the pen is in use, the cap 10 is fitted over the shield. as shown in Fig. l, the wall of the open end of the cap being exteriorly beveled, as indicated at l1, so as to avoid the presentation of an interfering projection.

In practice the cap l() normally [its upon the front end of the barrel and covers and protects the pen-point, while the shield normally iits upon the neck and covers and protects the bulb. When it is desired to employ the pen for writing, the cap is removed from the front end of the barrel and iitted over the shield, as shown in Fig. l. When it is required to reiill the barrel with ink, the cap and shield are removed, the bulb compressed to force air from the barrel, and the point end of the pen dipped into a supply of ink. Upon relaxing the bulb the pressure of the atmosphere will force ink from the source of supply into the barrel, thus refilling the same, as will be readily understood.

Owing to the elongated form of the bulb and the restricted size of the duct or passage 3, the bulb when compressed simply expels the air contained within the barrel, allowing sufficient to remain to fill it (the bulb) when the latter is relaxed and permitted to expand. Hence when the bulb returns to expanded po- IOO sition the barrel will be filled with ink; but a pressure of air will exist in the bulb which will prevent ink from {iowing thereinto through the duct 3. By this means the bulb is kept clear of ink at all times, and it is thus protected from disintegration or deleterious iniiuences which the constituents of the ink will eXert thereon. Owing to this fact and the fact that the bulb is protected by the shield 9, the life of the bulb will be prolonged to a material extent, thus reducing the cost of maintaining the pen in perfect condition for use to a minimum. If for any cause, however, the bulb in use becomes unfit for use, it may be readily detached upon removing the shield 9 and a new bulb conveniently substituted therefor.

My invention therefore provides a pen which is simple of construction, convenient and eihcient in use, and may be produced at a comparatively low cost.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the invention will be understood without a further extended description.

Changes in the form, proportions,and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the invention without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isw l. In a fountain-pen, the combination of a barrel provided atits rear end with a reduced integral neck provided with a reduced integral nipple, said nipple having an undercut outer surface and a restricted air-duct, a bulb having a contracted neck adapted to engage the nipple, a shield adapted to inclose the bulb and fit upon the neck, and a cap adapted to [it upon the front end of the barrel and cover the pen-point when the pen is not in use and to be fitted upon the sleeve when the pen is in use, substantially as described.

2. In a 'fountain-pen, the combination of a barrel provided at its rear end with a reduced integral neck provided with a reduced integral nipple, said nipple having an undercut outer surface and a restricted air-duct, a bulb having a contracted neck adapted to engage the nipple, and a shield adapted to inclose the bulb and lit upon the neck, substantially as described.

3. In a fountain-pen, a barrel having a projection atits rear end provided with afree or unoccupied restricted air-duct normally in direct communication with the interior of the barrel, a bulb of elastic material iitting on such projection and adapted to be directly manipulated by the fingers of the hand to discharge air from and produce a vacuum in the barrel to adapt the same to be iilled with ink, and a shield removable to expose the bulb for relilling purposes litting on said projection over said bulb and whose only necessary function is protection of said bulb, all forming permanent [iXtures of the pen while said pen is in use, substantially as described.

4. In a fountain-pen, a barrel provided with a projection at its rear end, said projection having a minute air-duct normally in direct communication with the rear end of the barrel, a refilling-bulb permanently iitting on said projection and adapted to be directly manipulated by the lingers of the hand to discharge a portion of the air from the barrel and produce a partial vaccum therein to adapt the same to be filled with ink, the construction and relative proportions of the parts being such that when the bulb is relaxed the air remaining in the barrel will be received under pressure by the bulb, the pressure of the air and minute size of the air-duct preventing the ink in the barrel from passing into the bulb, whereby the bulb is protected, and a shield completely inclosing and protecting the bulb from exterior compression, said shield being removable to permit the bulb to be manipulated by hand when it is desired t0 relill the barrel, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof l atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL H. HODGES.

Witnesses:

Guo. E. BRIMMus, C. L. PARsoNs. 

